fiveandtwo

Hoops And Interviews

  Hello, I'm back from Melbourne. Linsey has had The Holy VCA Interview but doesn't think it went well. A letter from RMIT awaited when we got home saying that regretfully, they couldn't offer her a place in 2009. The girl doesn't think she'll get te ENTER of 80 she needs for Monash.

I know it's extremely painful for her. It's painful for me as a parent too. That I can't make things happen as I know she wants them to. I want for her what she wants for herself.

However, from my position as an oldie, I know it's not a fatal blow. And I can see in front of me a lass who's vastly more switched on than I ever was at 18. I know she'll pursue what she wants in spite of these setbacks (something I was unable to do at that age). But...she cried, and that is a blow to my heart. Life is strewn with disappointments, and I can't make it better.

 I think I may be unduly sensitised at the moment, a fellow a year older than Linsey suicided last week in Lakes Entrance, in spite of being surrounded by family and friends...

 Gee, I'm not doing very well articulating this. Possibly I  should have waited a day or so.

On a lighter note, I've jumped on the fabric-in-embroidery-hoop bandwagon and put some on the wall on the stairs to my room. Rather hard to photograph as it's on an angle.

 

 

Some Goodies From The Swap Meet

I didn't photograph the keys of the scissors, old ones added to those collections.

 

I've had my eye out for one of these pencil sharpeners for a loooong time. It will sharpen all our pencils, from the tiny one I keep in my bag to the huge Lyra Super Ferby pencils that Clare and Ally have.

 

More buttons for the somewhat vast collection. Believe it or not I am forcing myself to be more selective with my button collecting. They are small but you still need somewhere to put them, somewhere accessible, you know, so you can actually find buttons to sew on that shirt you're making.

 

Two pencil tins (empty). I am going to put some seriously nice drawing pencils in them for Linsey, as a Christmas present.  She plans to study art. We're going to Melbourne, to the Victorian College of the Arts, on Thursday for an interview. She's also applied at Monash Uni., RMIT and Swinburne. Interviews at those institutions to come.

 

I wanted to put my sewing machine feet, spare needles and so forth in this but they don't all fit. It does hold a good selection of threads though. I think the fellow selling on this stall had whiskey for breakfast. Very jolly and very "fragrant". Plenty of funny banter.

 

This "clam shell" thread case came with all those lovely wooden cotton reels in it! My heart was aflutter when I saw I tell you. However, on the way home it was knocked by something and developed this crack. Never mind. It's high enough to store the modern reels of thread, so it will be well used.

 

See the crack! Incredibly minor life event. Really.

I'm not sure how posts will go in the next month. I'm having a carpal tunnel operation tomorrow, on my right hand. I'm not to use that hand for three weeks following.

I'm psyching myself up for lots of whingeing as the older kids have to do tea, with me supervising. Think how skilled they'll become! They should be hanging out for this experience!

Since the Bendigo trip I'm aware of how much those teenagers need to learn. Three week domestic training experience to follow!

Weigel's 2121

I made a dress using a vintage pattern!

 

Not for me though - I'm too fat for pretty much all vintage patterns. 

I made it for Linsey to wear to her graduation. She chose the pattern from my collection, and chose view B, but didn't like the three-quarter sleeves. I was able to make it sleeveless - there was just enough fabric left from the cutting out to make facings.

It also needed it made smaller. The pattern is for a 36" bust and she is only 34". There are some extra "design features" on the bodice where I used extra darts to make it smaller.

  

   

I'm very pleased with the result.

And here are some little felt birds I made while I was at Bendigo. I find it hard to "just sit". I've learned to take some sort of handwork and some books whenever we go away.

 

Old Magazines

I got the magazines at the Bendigo Swap Meet, and I'm captivated by the advertisements in them.

Definitely from another era.

 

When things like the whiteness of your wash was important.

 

The regularity of your bowels. I think this fellow needs to lay off the All Bran though.

 

Tampons gave this kind of freedom.

 

But these were the kind of undergarments women wore.

 

When they weren't obsessing about their bust size.

 

Or their double chins.

 

The many uses of cellotape. That little girl might not look so cheerful when she realises how short her fringe was cut.

 

The perfect gift for mother. Really?

  

 

Oh, the evils of the less-than-clean toilet. Beware.

 

Make sure it's the right fabric.

 

This woman is really pleased she got the right thread. See her smile. She's definitely happy.

 

My kids were very taken with this advert. Must get me some of these.

 

 They aren't chipper like this when doing the dishes though.

 

The "fabulous" 1950's...

Road Trip And Swap Meet

We went to the truly huge Bendigo Swap Meet! Swap Meet, you say? Aren't they just old car and motorbike parts, bloke's stuff? Well, not always. Many of them are a treasure trove of op shop-type stuff (I am being very generous revealing this secret to you).

You see, many of the fellows are accompanied by their wives, and rather than sit around doing nothing, these women have their own sideline in vintage and secondhand goods.

So, while my husband fossicks for old motorbike parts my eyes are peeled for additions to my collections. I bought buttons, old keys and scissors, books, wooden bobbins, a vintage suitcase and ice creams for Clare and Ally, my faithful sidekicks. They also got parasols because I forgot to pack hats for them.

If we go to another of these enormous Swap Meets I think some sort of trolley is in order, for carting the loot. Many more experienced than us had something on wheels for this purpose. Plenty of these:

Much improvisation of the humble bag trolley:

 

An array of shopping carts:

 

 

You've probably guessed I was very taken by the array of "transports".

Human ingenuity is a wonderful thing.

It wasn't all poking around at Swap Meets. We took the "talking tram" (running commentary pointing out landmarks and giving historical background) tour around Bendigo, took a tour of Central Deborah Mine. Part of which was underground - a big thing for claustrophobic me. I concentrated hard on the guide and refrained from looking up at the tons of rock above my head...I breathed slowly and deeply...and survived.

A visit to the Victoria Hill Reserve was rather easier. The remains of diggings and mines in that area, with the mine shafts sealed off. I forgot to ask the Central Deborah guide why the tower-like lifting structure over the mine shaft is called a poppet head. Google hasn't even been able to tell me.

 

 

The journey home took us via Shepparton, morning tea at Benalla, Bright, lunch at Harrietville, over Mount Hotham (some hard, icy patches of snow remaining) to Dinner Plain and Omeo, then on to Bairnsdale. A very scenic route.

The teenagers seemed pleased to see us after five days fending for themselves. The dog was ecstatic. I am hoping that a greater interest might now be taken in learning to cook well, and generally care for, and organise, a household. What do you reckon my chances are? Truly, I have shown each one of my three older offspring how to use the washing machine. Obviously it didn't imprint, they got a friend to come over and show them.Sigh...

Window Light

Sometimes he light is just right for taking photos.

   

Clare, and Ally, busy at the kitchen table.